One of the odd things I have observed over the last few years is that intelligent and serious Christians tend to gravitate into three places: the first is the Roman Church, the second is the Orthodox, and the third is the Calvinists or Reformed. I was thinking about this as I was looking at this passage and contemplating Ann Barnhardt. She is Catholic primarily because she read people who were Catholic apologists and left the anti-faith of her mainline church (which had gelded Christ, so that he would not disturb them). I think the reason people choose one way or the other is the content of the theology. These three groups are the confessional groups: the more mainline protestants have forgotten what a confession is, or what theology is.
I don’t think it is aesthetics. I like the Catholic Mass. As poetry. As music. I really, really like the Book of Common Prayer. I like evensong. I’m biased towards classical music to the point that my main instrument is now a viola, and my guitars are gathering dust. And I like the art of the orthodox — from the ikons to their chant.
Now one of the differences between the Romans and the others is that the Romans are, by nature, legalists. It goes back to the Ancient Republic, that wrote their laws on columns so all could read them. The scholars among the Romans have at times moved into speculation and made dogma what the Reformed would prefer to be silent on, and the Orthodox correctly call a mystery. But these things are the meat of our faith.
And they do not change. Which brings us to the meat of today’s post. We are called to work. We are not called to be idle. Most of the bloggers I read are not paid merely to sit in front of a computer and produce prose. Now, there is teaching around not making oneself a corporate slave. That we are called to be human, not some cog in a machine. In part, this means that we need to give up some ideas that we will be great, or rich. For we are not called to that. We are called to be holy.
I am well settled-in after living “van down by the river” style for a little over a year now. I forward pay rent (which allows me to sleep well at night), and try to stick to one good meal per day (I lurv food). My motto around Riverville is, “The safest place for ‘my’ money is on someone else’s balance sheet. Can I pay in advance?” While not living like a monk, the standard of living on a material scale has been massively downgraded, while the standard of living on a human scale is so high that I still can’t believe it. That inverse correlation is no mere coincidence. I am also keen to turn money into experiences and memories, from quiet dinners at home with friends to the occasional trip to see new places and things. While I traveled massively during my career, specifically when I was teaching live Cattle Marketing Schools (my course is only available on DVD now – sorry), I never SAW anything except the airport terminal and the hotel lobby and ballroom. So yeah, I’ve been to Boise and Seattle and Sacramento, but I never SAW anything. Now, when someone says, “Hey, you wanna go along to Thisandsuchplace?” I generally say, “Yes. Yes I do.” Memories of a life fully lived will be a true consolation when the really bad times come. The following saying has been co-opted and abused by the self-worshiping post-Christian culture in these dark days, but it is still a truism when properly understood: Gloria Dei est vivens homo. The glory of God is man fully alive.
Ann Barhnadt, who wrote this, does casual cleaning jobs. Karen Straughan works as a waitress. Many female christian bloggers are raising kids (which is a full time job, particularly if you home school them: given the deterioration in school systems within the USA sending a child to the state system is becoming increasingly abusive.
But to the passage.
1Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, 2and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. 3But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
6Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
14Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed. 15Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers.
16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
It is important that we see this as what it is. The passage talks about living in idleness, and that is indeed bad for you. If you don’t have a reason to get up… you won’t. A man should support himself, indeed support his family. The church should be giving alms to those who cannot find a job, who are disabled… but even then they should not be idle. There are lawns to mow. There are gardens to keep. I need a gardener and a cleaner: I work full-time, do not like gardening, and my extra energy goes into keeping the boys fed and me sane. And yes, I pay someone I know to do this — which helps their budget.
The great monastic founders were aware of this need and scheduled times of work as well as times of prayer and contemplation within the lives of their communities.
Now, we live in a time when many corporations are being destroyed and new ones are growing. Today I read that HP is letting 16 000 people go because they are making losses. And that is a difficult time for those people: the same thing happens in China when factories cannot keep contracts (or the orders dry up). What we need to do within the church is keep people employed.
Employed; not necessarily paid. Not necessarily registered. Not necessarily taxed. They may be living simply (in families) and working the garden, or attending school, or needing support to make a contribution. But doing something productive.
For the economy of this world will have periods of collapse and crunch, particularly in places where the population is falling. But the people of God should indeed be working, regardless.
